Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (Part 58)
The Meeting of Binyamin with Prophet Yusuf (PBUH) and Yusuf’s Desire to Keep Him
When the brothers of Yusuf (PBUH) entered Egypt and came before him; while they did not recognize him Yusuf (PBUH) was greatly delighted upon seeing his full brother, Binyamin. He took Binyamin close to himself and treated him with great affection and kindness. Yusuf (PBUH) said to his brother secretly: “وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَى یوسُفَ آوَى إِلَیهِ أَخَاهُ قَالَ إِنِّی أَنَا أَخُوكَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا یعْمَلُونَ” [1] Translation: “When they entered upon Yusuf, he drew his brother close to himself and said, ‘Indeed, I am your brother, so do not be distressed by what they used to do.’”
They accepted the instruction of their father and entered Egypt through the several gates their father had ordered them to. Yet such an entry did not benefit them against anything Allah had decreed (for caution does not repel destiny). They were later accused of theft in Egypt, and their brother Binyamin was taken as a hostage, and sorrows engulfed them one after another. However, it fulfilled a need within the heart of Ya‘qub (PBUH) that Yusuf would be found, recognized by Binyamin, and eventually the father and son be reunited after long years of separation. Indeed, Ya‘qub was aware through revelation of matters We had taught him, including that Yusuf was alive and that his dream would certainly come true. But most people do not know.
Then Yusuf (PBUH) revealed his desire to keep Binyamin in Egypt in order to prepare the means for bringing his father and mother. He devised a plan for this purpose: he arranged for Binyamin to be accused of theft so that he could legally keep him with himself. Yusuf (PBUH) knew that according to the law of Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya‘qub (PBUTH), the punishment for a thief was to be enslaved in exchange for the stolen property and handed over to its owner. [2]
For this reason, Yusuf (PBUH) instructed his servants to secretly place the king’s measuring cup (the Ṣuā‘ of the King) in the luggage of his full brother, so that it would be found with him and — according to the ruling concerning theft he could keep him by his side. After the caravan departed, a herald called out: “ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ مُؤَذِّنُ أَیتُهَا الْعِیرُ إِنَّكُمْ لَسَارِقُونَ” [3] Translation: “Then a caller cried out, ‘O caravan! You are surely thieves!’”
At this moment, the brothers of Yusuf (PBUH) asked: “قَالُوا مَاذَا تَفْقِدُونَ” [4] Translation: “They said: What is it that you have lost?”
The servants replied: “قَالُوا نَفْقِدُ صُوَاعَ الْمَلِكِ وَلِمَن جَاءَ بِهِ حِمْلُ بَعِیرٍ وَأَنَا بِهِ زَعِیمٌ”[5] Translation: “They said: We have lost the king’s measuring cup, and whoever brings it shall receive a camel-load in reward, and I personally guarantee it.”
The brothers of Yusuf (PBUH) replied with a firm oath: “تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا جِئْنَا لِنُفْسِدَ فِی الْأَرْضِ وَمَا كُنَّا سَارِقِینَ”[6] Translation: “They said: By Allah! You surely know that we have not come to cause corruption in this land, nor have we ever been thieves.”
The servants of Yusuf (PBUH) asked the brothers: “If you are lying, what is the punishment for a thief?” The brothers of Yusuf (peace be upon him), relying on their own sacred law, replied: “قَالُوا جَزَاؤُهُ مَن وُجِدَ فِی رَحْلِهِ فَهُوَ جَزَاؤُهُ” [7] Translation: “They said: The punishment is that whoever’s luggage the cup is found in; he himself shall be the recompense (i.e., he shall become the bondman in exchange for what was stolen).”
Yusuf (PBUH) then began inspecting their luggage: “فَبَدَأَ بِأَوْعِیتِهِمْ قَبْلَ وِعَاءِ أَخِیهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْرَجَهَا مِن وِعَاءِ أَخِیهِ” [8] Translation: “So he began with the bags of the others before the bag of his brother, and then he brought it out from the bag of his brother.”
Allah the Exalted says: “كَذَلِكَ كِدْنَا لِیوسُفَ مَا كَانَ لِیأْخُذَ أَخَاهُ فِی دِینِ الْمَلِكِ إِلَّا أَن یشَاءَ اللَّهُ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِی عِلْمٍ عَلِیمٌ” [9] Translation: “Thus We planned for Yusuf. He could not have detained his brother under the law of the king, unless Allah willed. We raise in degrees whom We will and above every possessor of knowledge is One more knowing.”
This plan was divine inspiration to Yusuf (PBUH) so that he could attain his goal of reuniting the family and bringing his father and mother. In reality, Yusuf (PBUH) could not have legally kept his brother under the law of the king of Egypt, except through the will and decree of Allah, who raises ranks and above every person of knowledge is One who is All-Knowing.
To be continued…
Previous Part/ Next Part
References:
- Yusuf: 69.
- Muhammad ibn ‘Umar ibn Husayn, Fakhr al-Razi, Mafatih al-Ghayb (al-Tafsir al-Kabir), vol. 18, p. 180.
- Yusuf: 70.
- Yusuf: 71.
- Yusuf: 72.
- Yusuf: 73.
- Yusuf: 75.
- Yusuf: 76.
-
Yusuf: 76.
